Missing scooter returned to Batavia girl

BATAVIA – An electric scooter used by an 8-year-old Batavia girl who has spina bifida was returned to the girl Monday morning after being removed from a neighbor’s house Saturday night.

“It was returned, thankfully,” said Shelby Mertes, the mother of 8-year-old Camy, who was born with spina bifida. “It allowed her to have a little bit independence in the neighborhood. She can keep up with the neighborhood kids.”

The scooter was taken between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday while parked in front of a neighbor’s house. Camy was inside the house playing with her friends, Mertes said.

After the scooter was taken, Mertes contacted Batavia police, and information about the missing scooter was posted on Facebook. On Monday morning, the scooter was returned to the same location.

Mertes said she doesn’t know who might have taken the scooter.

“I’m chalking it up to youthful mischief,” Mertes said. “I do feel the police department was on top of it. Enough people were talking about it in the community. We had an outpouring of support.”

At the time the scooter went missing, a basket hanging on the front of the scooter had Camy’s helmet in it, along with some small stuffed animals and other belongings.